“Tom is a man with great communication skills. I have witnessed him speaking to a range of people, from the local long-distance runner who barely qualified for the Boston Marathon to US senators and national business leaders. Tom is clear and concise. He speaks to everyone respectfully and thoughtfully. Tom's training as an attorney coupled with his decades of experience in successfully running an international sporting event has distinguished him locally. Moreover, his presentations in Washington and especially to the FBI are highly regarded. He is extremely interesting and has a story to tell that is unique and fascinating. His audience will be moved by his message and the humble endearing person that Tom is. In the aftermath of the cowardly attack on April 15, 2013 at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, I stood amidst the chaos on Boylston Street joining with other individuals who were mobilizing to protect our community. I needed leaders. And Tom Grilk was immediately standing by our side, ready to help lead and protect our community. His support on behalf of the BAA was immeasurable to investigators during that unforgettable week in Boston’s history.”

- Edward F. Davis - Boston Police Commissioner, 2006-2013; President & CEO, The Edward Davis Company

“Tom Grilk worked extensively with our research team in the aftermath of the 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing, when my colleagues and I at the Kennedy School were trying to get a full understanding of the preparations for and the operations of the Boston Marathon that year and to understand all aspects of the response (including the role played by the BAA). Tom was a significant contributor to our research. We hosted an international conference with about 100 attendees to discuss our findings, and Tom spoke quite eloquently and movingly about the event to this very senior group of highly experienced crisis leaders. He also spoke at an event we hosted in the Kennedy School Forum for a wider audience of students and members of the public, and he was again eloquent and insightful. Tom Grilk has a great deal of insight, accumulated from a lifetime of experience, to offer about leadership, crisis management, and working rapidly under stress. He can address audiences ranging from the lay public to senior professionals – all with clarity, power, and perception.”

- Herman “Dutch” Leonard - George F Baker, Jr. Professor of Public Management, Harvard Kennedy School

“I particularly think (Tom Grilk) is well suited to understand how a team works and leading with your heart. This resonates I think with leaders who have to work with people and things that matter to those people (like the marathon, like a transplant). I have thought back on his talk with [our group of physicians from around the world] recently as I was working through a challenging situation at work. I realized that my team was great, I needed to let them lead and empower them to make decisions. It is not a “traditional heavy handed, manage every detail way” of leadership. Instead, I let them lead and wow did my team rise to the occasion and we found ourselves a stronger and more engaged team.“

- Dr. Laurie D. Snyder - Professor of Medicine, Duke University Clinical Research Institute

“Tom Grilk is a captivating and moving speaker whose successful experience preparing for, and navigating through the crucible of crisis leadership is not only inspiring but invaluably instructive to other leaders. He spoke at our event for association leaders and was so impressive that many of them sought him out afterwards to speak to their organizations.”

- Executive Director, Association Channel Sales, Constellation Energy

“Tom is a recognized thought leader in risk and insurance. His time at the Boston Athletic Association included the challenges of a terrorist event viewed through a worldwide lens, a severe weather event that nearly cancelled a flag ship event and the challenges of modernizing an institution that prides itself on its sense of history. In 2017 Tom was asked to be a speaker at Willis Towers Watson’s annual risk event attended by senior executives representing various industries operating internationally and globally. The room listened with rapt attention as Tom spoke to the challenges of a catastrophic event and more importantly, the culture and strategy that led to the successful outcome of what was a horrific event. The BAA and the bombing are a source of study amongst executive risk and insurance professionals on how to correctly handle a catastrophic event.”

- Senior Vice President, Willis Towers Watson